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Obama Interview Excerpt: Reaching Across the Aisle

June 16, 2008 3:46 PM

We got a few minutes to interview Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today. Here's one exchange. More of it will air tonight on World News with Charles Gibson, later on Nightline and tomorrow on Good Morning America.

TAPPER:  You and Senator John McCain are both talking about the need to reach across the partisan divide.

OBAMA:  Right.

TAPPER:  It's not difficult to look at Senator McCain's record and see examples of times when he reached across the partisan divide at great political risk to himself:  immigration reform, Gang of 14, campaign finance reform.  I know that you have worked across the aisle.

OBAMA:  Absolutely.

TAPPER:  But have you ever worked across the aisle in such a way that entailed a political risk for yourself?

OBAMA:  Well, look, when I was doing ethics reform legislation, for example, that wasn't popular with Democrats or Republicans.  So any time that you actually try to get something done in Washington, it entails some political risks. But I think the basic principle which you pointed out is that I have consistently said, when it comes to solving problems, like nuclear proliferation or reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington, that I don't approach this from a partisan or ideological perspective.  And the same is true when it comes to the economy.  The same is true when it comes to national security.  You know, this administration, the Bush administration, has made, for example, the war on terror into a sharply partisan issue. But the truth is, is that I admire some of the foreign policy of George Bush's father.  And I've said so before.  I think that there's a tradition of us working together to make sure that we are dealing with the threats that are out there and that we are building a consensus here in the United States.  That's the kind of approach I intend to take when I'm president of the United States.

- jpt

June 16, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (61)

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debra the more i think about it the more obama seems like gwb. 1) fanatical fire spitting supporters that have the need for a 'savior' type of leader. 2) unqualified. 3) educated at ivy league school (wasted money if you ask me). 4). stuttering 5). unable to debate.
6) unable to articulate a coherent sentence without a script or teleprompter. 7). both dismiss (flip off) opponents and critics-obama literally flipped-off hillary (as per numerous sources with video). 8). questionable and unethical vote procurement tactics employed by party insiders on their behalf. 9). both considered selected versus elected.
perhaps genetic they are related you know.

Posted by: sonia trevino | Jun 16, 2008 6:03:59 PM

One of the current email smears against Senator Obama was repeated in a post to this blog. That smear quotes Obama as saying. . .

"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction"...Barack Hussein Obama.

This is what he really wrote about his experiences talking to Arab and Pakistani immigrants.

"(T)he stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

Posted by: George | Jun 16, 2008 6:02:49 PM

I love the new rallying cry of Obama supporters. "I can't wait for him to lower my taxes and eliminate taxes for my retired mom/dad." Yeah, and at the same time...he's gonna expand spending? He's gonna do that how? Oh, yeah, raising taxes on higher income brackets. But even that won't cover all his 'programs'.

Let's take the 'no taxes' for Soc. Sec. folks earning less than $50k. Exactly why should they not be taxed? Why not eliminate taxes for everyone earning less than 50k? Better yet, let's just tax everyone making more than $100k. Because of course, only people making more than 100k actually benefit gov't programs.

Let's just change the name of the country to the UWSA - United Welfare States of America.

Posted by: FishMonger | Jun 16, 2008 6:00:52 PM

I't seems that in this site everyone would rather have a caged angry maverick in charge of our foreign policy. McCain will be having dinner at 2pm in bed by 5 and NO ONE to answer the phone. The guy has served, thank you, now GO AWAY!!

Posted by: frank | Jun 16, 2008 5:58:02 PM

When ever someone attacks a country and they are captured they are now POW's but a pansy like you would never now that because you never served one day in the military.
***************************************

I'll try again. You have no information about me that allows you to make this statement.

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 5:46:53 PM

What great political risk has Senator McCain taken? He has done things that make him unpopular with some Republicans, but what has he done that seriously endangered his chances of being re-elected to the Senate?

Posted by: George | Jun 16, 2008 5:42:35 PM

Mama knows better is right....Obama's speech problem with the stammering should have been addressed before he ran for Senator....."uh, ah, um"....and the "well look", is just his way to buy time and try to formulate anything that sounds like an answer.
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction"...Barack Hussein Obama.
McCain '08!

Posted by: Debra | Jun 16, 2008 5:40:46 PM

He only has 140+ days there before starting the run for the presidency. It takes most people that long to learn which side of the aisle they sit on.

That was the standard political 'answer with no answer'. Empty suit rhetoric.

This election is busted.

Posted by: len | Jun 16, 2008 5:38:14 PM

Sonia has it right...don't take any risks with anything you say...cross your arms and look Presidential...if it isn't scripted don't say it...that's Obmama.
McCain whips him on taking chances in all aspects...Obama says whatever he has to as a politician......we all heard the good Rev. Wright tell Moyers that.

Posted by: Debra | Jun 16, 2008 5:35:10 PM

Stop the presses THINKING claims to have served 4 years in the marines which probably is a Democrat lie. So THINKING knows everything about war.
***************************************

Hmmmm.............
I wonder where you get your information.

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 5:33:24 PM

Obama has the reputation in the Senate for talking big but rarely taking a stance. He voted "Present" 130 times.

Posted by: cindy in nc | Jun 16, 2008 5:24:48 PM

Thinking are you trying to change the rules of war because of people like McCain defending your freedom to lie. When ever someone attacks a country and they are captured they are now POW's but a pansy like you would never now that because you never served one day in the military.
**************************************

I served 4 years in the Marine Corps, 1 tour in Vietnam.

It is clear that you do not know the difference between POW and Enemy Combatant. Doubt that you care.

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 5:22:58 PM

babble babble babble, thats obama, uh yeah , sure , babble babble. Risk? Obama does everything as low risk as possible. There is no comparision betweent he type of Men Obama and McCain are. Obama lies about everything, sells everyone off. Including his best friends, preachers and family. McCain has shown the grit and sacrifice he will make. As far as risk goes, there is no contest!

Posted by: old and proud | Jun 16, 2008 5:21:23 PM

President Barack Hussien Obama!

Man this is going to be cool!

Posted by: Joe | Jun 16, 2008 5:19:44 PM

There is nothing there.
The guy is an empty suit spewing out empty words.

Posted by: Sally Frank | Jun 16, 2008 5:19:08 PM

Of course Obama could never answer that question directly because he has never accomplished anything. What a dud!

Posted by: Nobama | Jun 16, 2008 5:16:34 PM

I was on latrine duty most of my time over their and doing really wild drugs that are only in the southeast asia while in the Marines. Oh by the way i was also John Wayne

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 5:13:24 PM

@ same old dude

You know nothing of what you talk about.

I served 4 years in the Marine Corps, one tour in Vietnam, not that gives me any insight into the differeance between being a POW and classified as an Enemy Combatant. Clearly you do not know the differance, probably wouldn't care anyway.

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 16, 2008 5:10:33 PM

4 new rules for obama from his handlers when being interviewed or debating (ha ha). these rules apply always (unless hillary is there to prompt the answers). 4 simple rules.
1. do not say anything of substance. 2. do not place yourself in a situation where you may be asked to understand or defend your position. 3. fold your arms like lincoln and look presidential. 4. do not use any original material that was not written for you.

Posted by: sonia trevino | Jun 16, 2008 5:09:37 PM

Thinking are you trying to change the rules of war because of people like McCain defending your freedom to lie. When ever someone attacks a country and they are captured they are now POW's but a pansy like you would never now that because you never served one day in the military.

Posted by: same old dude | Jun 16, 2008 5:03:47 PM

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